Short term effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents on cornea, anterior chamber, and intraocular pressure

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate short term changes in anterior chamber depth (ACD), central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. Materials and methods: A total of 100 eyes from 100 patients, who were naive for intravitreal injection treatment, were included in this retrospective study. Patients who received only a single type of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, or aflibercept) for two consecutive months were examined. ACD, CCT, IOP, and ECD measurements were taken at pre-injection and one month after the first and second injections and were compared. Results: The mean corneal ECD for all eyes and phakic eyes was significantly lower one month after the first (p = 0.041 and p = 0.047, respectively) and second injections (p = 0.013 and p = 0.034, respectively) compared to the values at pre-injection levels. Similarly, the mean ACD of all eyes and phakic eyes was significantly lower one month after the first (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and second injections (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared to the values at pre-injection levels. However, there was no significant difference in pseudophakic eyes one month after the first and second injections (ECD, p = 0.28 and p = 0.23; ACD, p = 0.75 and p = 0.71, respectively). There was no significant change in IOP and CCT values at pre-injection and one month after the first and second injections for all eyes and for both the phakic and pseudophakic eyes. Discussion: After the anti-VEGF injections, IOP and CCT values were not significantly changed and were similar in all eyes and phakic eyes; however, in these groups, there was a small but statistically significant decrease in ACD and ECD. On the contrary, there was no significant difference in pseudophakic eyes. Clinicians performing intravitreal injections must be aware of these associations for a better understanding of ACD and ECD changes in phakic eyes.

Keywords: Anterior chamber depth; anti-VEGF; central corneal thickness; endothelial cell density; intraocular pressure.